Norton helping to intercept Woodson

Jeffri Chadiha, OF THE EXAMINER STAFF

Published 4:00 am, Wednesday, July 9, 1997

The 49ers and Rod Woodson are closer to completing the free-agent cornerback's arrival in the Bay Area.

The team freed the necessary salary-cap room to sign Woodson when linebacker Ken Norton agreed to a three-year contract extension Monday. The move means Norton, whose deal would have expired in 1999, will be with the team six more seasons. It also means the 49ers now have the $750,000 needed to sign Woodson.

The only other matters that have prevented Woodson from signing a contract by now are minor, according to Dwight Clark, the 49ers' vice president and director of football operations. Clark said the team and Woodson's agent, Eugene Parker, still are negotiating base salary and signing bonus to secure an adequate salary-cap number, as well as the number of contracted years (one or two).

"It will get done," Clark said Tuesday. "None of the remaining details are major issues. There's no stumbling blocks at this point. It's all about working out the best deal for both sides."

Woodson, 32, agreed in June to join the 49ers, choosing them over five other interested teams. Last August, he also turned down a $3 million multiyear contract extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers, with whom Woodson spent all 11 of his previous NFL seasons.

Woodson has played in seven Pro Bowls, and intercepted six passes last season after returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that sidelined him for most of 1995. He is expected to replace Tyronne Drakeford in the 49ers' secondary this season.

Woodson, Parker, Norton and Norton's agent, Gary Wichard, could not be reached for comment.&lt;